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The longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and active duty Green Beret was recently one of several Strikeforce fighters added to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster (see the entire list here) following the former's dissolution last weekend in Oklahoma City.

Now it's time to get to work.

Conveniently, Leben just so happens to be looking for someone to fight, recently asking his Twitter followers for suggestions on his next opponent. Not surprisingly, Kennedy's name was at the forefront and the Greg Jackson disciple was quick to respond.

Quote:

Tim Kennedy
@TimKennedyMMA
"@cropduster85: "@cripplerufc: Chris Leben vs @TimKennedyMMA" I am a big Chris Leben fan, and he and I would put on a great fight.

Kennedy (15-4) rebounded from a unanimous decision loss to former division titleholder Luke Rockhold (who called out this UFC middleweight) by strangling Trevor Smith at the final Strikeforce event last Saturday night (Jan. 12, 2013) in "The Sooner State." He has 13 finishes in 15 wins including eight submissions.

Not too shabby.

Leben (22-9) came off a lengthy suspension only to drop his second straight fight when Derek Brunson beat him on points at the UFC 155: "Dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2" pay-per-view (PPV) event last month is Las Vegas. "The Crippler" is just 1-3 since 2010, but ends over half his fights by way of knockout or technical knockout.

Yea, encourage them to call out real fights. Not just fights that stylistically favor them vs. guys they "respect".

If you want to call someone out make sure they are ahead of you.

Does Kennedy want to go backwards? Leban is a mess and a pretty perfect style for Tim to beat.

Rockhold should consider himself a top 5 MW since he is the SF MW Champ. He stated in the past he wanted Bisping. Now he is calling out a guy they may have squeaked into the top 10 just recently?

At least Healy is calling out a higher ranked guy. But obvious he wants a FOTN bonus.

I have no problem calling a guy out if there is bad blood. Or if you seem to want their spot. Not guys ranked lower. Seems like every SF guy has called out his 1st fight, looking for very winnable fights as if they deserve to be showcased or something.

Yea, encourage them to call out real fights. Not just fights that stylistically favor them vs. guys they "respect".

If you want to call someone out make sure they are ahead of you.

Does Kennedy want to go backwards? Leban is a mess and a pretty perfect style for Tim to beat.

Rockhold should consider himself a top 5 MW since he is the SF MW Champ. He stated in the past he wanted Bisping. Now he is calling out a guy they may have squeaked into the top 10 just recently?

At least Healy is calling out a higher ranked guy. But obvious he wants a FOTN bonus.

I have no problem calling a guy out if there is bad blood. Or if you seem to want their spot. Not guys ranked lower. Seems like every SF guy has called out his 1st fight, looking for very winnable fights as if they deserve to be showcased or something.

Take a good look at the MW roster and who is available. Right now Costa is the best possible opponent that isn't either booked, injured or coming off a loss. Check it out and tell me I'm wrong. Lombard-Okami booked, Bisping-Vitor booked, Spider hurt, Weidman hurt, Boetsch, Belcher, Munoz all coming off losses. Outside of calling out a fellow SF import who was left? Costa is 1 fight away from being in a contender fight anyways.

Say what you want about these Strikeforce guys, but they sound a LOT more hungrier than most of the UFC rostar. It's always good to have a group of fighters with a chip on their shoulders wanting to prove themselves in the big leagues.

Costa Phillipou? Chris Leben? Yeah, I'd be pretty hungry for those guys also if I was Rockhold or Kennedy.

Why doesn't Rockhold sack up and go "You know what if Bisping loses, I want Anderson, I'll fight that mother****er in Brazil if I have too." But he's calling out Costa? Come on son. Hell that's a plausible fight, if Rockhold pushes he could very well get Anderson since there's no interest in a rematch with Vitor and Weidman's hurt, he could come in pull the "Oh I'm the SF Champ" card even though he robbed Jacare blindly and then he could get that fight but he's calling out Costa Phillipou...